A university credit in advance

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NORTH BAY – A pilot project will give graduates from a North Bay high school a head start in their pursuit of higher education.
Nipissing University and Chippewa Secondary School of the Near North District School Board have partnered in an exclusive arrangement to let the high school students earn up to two university credits before ever enrolling there.
The credits are being offered in the Grade 12 English and Grade 12 chemistry courses taught at Chippewa.
“This project is part of our ongoing commitment to work collaboratively with the educational partners in our community to offer better options for students,” said Near North director of education Geof Botting.
“Nipissing is committed to increasing access for qualified students and is investigating better pathways to make the transition to university seamless,” said Dean Sharon Rich of the Schulich School of Education. “The university will investigate the success of this pilot project with the goal of opening it to other school boards in the province.”
The two courses will not change curriculum to earn the university credit, though they will have to reach a mark of at least 80 per cent.
“If they want to stay in North Bay this is a great opportunity. In this building you can go from Grade 7 to Grade 12 and come out with two advance courses to go to Nipissing University,” said Chippewa principal Lucio Pavone.
The English and chemistry courses were selected by the university, with recommendations from Chippewa, because it was believed they would offer the students the best chance at success and because of recognized excellence in those classes.
The English course has a history of strong student showings as does the chemistry course, which is taught by Dr. Ken Jones who has a PHD in chemistry.
“He is really excited about it. It really gives affirmation to the hard work he’s done to gain his doctorate,” said Pavone.
The first credits will be assigned to the English class this month at the end of exams with Chemistry and English classes reaching for the mark at the start of the second semester.
“When we announced this there were certainly some grins on the some of the students’ faces,” said Pavone.
That’s good news for Nipissing University.
“Student recruitment does factor into this, but it is more about easing the transition into university from high school,” said university spokesperson Bob Pipe.
Pavone credits the work of not just himself and the school staff, but Botting as well, who he says has emphasized building partnerships with Canadore College and the university to create more options for students.
“We have two stellar post secondary schools here in North Bay and director Botting has been working to enhance our relationships with them,” said Pavone.
“This stresses the great relationship we have with the Near North board in working with us to get this pilot project off the ground,” said Pipe.
Story by Rob Learn rlearn@metrolandnorthmedia.com